For newcomers: How to become one with XP10

Here in this X-plane 10 guide you will find my improvement-selection so far to spare you some research-time and more infos.

For newcomers

The new king is in town and here is my new guide -> XP11.

Below this intro you will find my improvement-selection so far to spare you some research-time and way more infos to enjoy this sim. Be patient with yourself. You will need time and more installments to use all the content you want to have. Just start your first installation and read the read me files.

Check my artworks for some more XP10 impressions.

- W2XP Sceneries
http://simheaven.com/?page_id=3260

Do not forget the world-models and there you will find a short FAQ to learn about the "scenery_packs.ini".

More w2xp stuff:
http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/category/170-world2xplane-scenery/

- UHD/HD Mesh Scenery
+ Tree Lines and Farms
http://www.alpilotx.net/

http://mirror-eu.aerosoft.com/hd_mesh/index.php#dateiname
http://mirror-eu.aerosoft.com/uhd_mesh/index.php#dateiname

- No installation "limits"
You can simply put your content in any folders on different disk partitions. Just add your stuff in a folder, select all, right mouse click, make short cut and a shortcut will be made for each one individually. Then cut and paste the shortcuts to the default X-Plane/Custom Scenery folder and fix your scenery_packs.ini after starting XP. Thats it.

- 3jClouds
http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/31080-3jclouds-lighter-and-puffier-clouds-with-less-puffs/

- 3jFPS-control: If you have fps issues, try this out.
http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/31097-3jfps-control-keep-good-fps-by-automatic-adaption-of-view-distance-cloud-quality/

- Enhanced Runways HD
http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/16270-enhanced-runways-hd-by-flyjsim/

- Pilot View
http://www.xpluginsdk.org/pilot_view.htm
Nice simple plug-in for help with your trackIR or one alternative: X-Camera[forums.x-plane.org]

- AI traffic
X-life & WorldTraffic: those are in my eyes 2 limited and unpractical expensive paywares, because of limited airports and in WT you have to create everything on your own - seems more a Traffic-Editor.

X-Life ready Airport list:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1wHdOnHyVX5IORUOPYtAA_7MfME4

In XP10 you can select under Planes&Situations up to 20 planes and they will be around you no matters where you are. Beware: fps-killer, I have selected plus 6 planes with my pc-rig.

Plus with Flyby Planes[forums.x-plane.org] you can add animated flying aircraft in seconds to any airport!

- Libraries
Master List of Libraries[forums.x-plane.org]

- "Multiplayer" & ATC

https://www.vatsim.net/
http://www.xsquawkbox.net/xsb/about/
http://www.pilotedge.net/
https://www.ivao.aero/softdev/ivap.asp
http://pilot2atc.com/
http://www.fseconomy.net
http://xsmart-plane.com/smartcopilot/
https://www.simbuddy.com
http://fsairlines.net/

- Buttons

GPS: How long I was looking for this ;)
The Cessna has it: To bind GPS to your joystick button go to extra buttons/gps/G-430Nav-1 toggle popup.

Speedbrakes retract one (They act, when you hit the ground): sim/flight_controls/speed_brakes_up_one

- Apps

Electronic Flight Assistant
http://froom.de/efass/

Plan-G
http://www.tasoftware.co.uk/

SimBrief
http://www.simbrief.com

SkyVector
http://skyvector.com/

xFlightplanner
http://www.xflightplanner.net/

xOrganizer
http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/31085-xorganizer-windows/

X-Assign
http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/12551-x-assign-linmacwin3264/

- Performance & Atmosphere, thats the main-problem not only in XP10.

I have frames between 10-80 ;) and I am using mainly real time with real weather & wind selected under quick-start. With my rig its no fun to fly acrobatic and with high-speed over ground, for this I have other sims to fly. In XP10 it is more a compromise to enjoy flying & the world plus "fooling" with the aeroplane-tech.

My options for an interesting "pretty" world @nvidia 770 gtx 4gb, intel i5 4670k @4.0ghz, SSD and 24gb ram. My max RAM usage was till now 19,5gb in New York with a lot of add-ons plus extreme objectives selected, Paris arround 16gb and less in the countryside.

If you are out of RAM, you will get an error from XP and your OS. I had this experience with my 8gb RAM. ;-)



@XP10 oldies: feel free to share with us more useful hints to enjoy this SIM. I will edit them here.

@Devs: please improve the performance and give us the steam-overlay!

Thanx to all creators, modders, coders! Wish you happy coding!

&

Happy flying @ll!

FAQ Videos

Thank you dear makers :)

Welcome to X-Plane: Configuring Your New Sim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMSoOlfIdVA

Xplane Dedicated: Beginners Guide part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btfX6zqkWvc&index=1&list=PL3tuWbI-nCCUjK54TRs7SEkZ-zaTMhnKV

Xplane Dedicated: Beginners Guide part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkzFj48wwt4&index=2&list=PL3tuWbI-nCCUjK54TRs7SEkZ-zaTMhnKV

Xplane Dedicated: Beginners Guide part 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h4uSHgs-WM&list=PL3tuWbI-nCCUjK54TRs7SEkZ-zaTMhnKV&index=3

Xplane Dedicated: Beginners Guide part 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1zWBsvP4iY&index=4&list=PL3tuWbI-nCCUjK54TRs7SEkZ-zaTMhnKV

Xplane Dedicated: Beginners Guide part 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmzxv49jFSI&list=PL3tuWbI-nCCUjK54TRs7SEkZ-zaTMhnKV&index=5

Xplane Dedicated: Beginners Guide part 6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOcyfZ68uJ8&list=PL3tuWbI-nCCUjK54TRs7SEkZ-zaTMhnKV&index=6

[X-Plane 10] Complete Settings Guide for X-Plane 10.36
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1GN7UB6zX0

Payware aircraft

Check always some videos and the forums before your purchase.

Some worthy high quality planes:

- C172 by Airfoillab

- Carenado - CT210M, only with Simcoders Reality Expansion Pack

- DDEN Bombardier Challenger 300

- Embraer 110 - Bandeirantes

- FF 767

- FlyJ's 732

- IXEG 737

- Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

- PMDG Douglas DC-6 Cloudmaster

- Rotate MD80

- Saab 340A

- SSG 747-8 - an experience, but sadly not high-qualy in V1.4

- STMA PC12


Helicopter:

- Bell 407 by Dreamfoil

- Bell 412 by XTrident

- Eurocopter AS350 B3 Plus by Dreamfoil

- Robinson R22 Beta II by Dreamfoil

- Schweizer 300CBi by Dreamfoil


Some online-shops:

- Aerosoft - Online Shop[www.shop.aerosoft.com]

- Flight Sim Pilot Shop[www.fspilotshop.com]

- Future Game Shop[www.futuregameshop.com]

- Just Flight[www.justflight.com]

- Simmarket[simmarket.com]

- X-aviation[www.x-aviation.com]

- X-plane-org store[store.x-plane.org]

Free stuff

- XPFR | Freeware production site[xpfr.org]
Some Aircraft, France sceneries, Paris and many Airports worldwide.

Planes

- Aero Boero AB-115[forums.x-plane.org]

- Eclipse 550[forums.x-plane.org]

- Eurofighter Typhoon[www.dmax3d.com]

- L-410 UVP-E / Turbolet[x-plane.hu]

- Stampe SV-4C[xpfr.org]

- Yakolev Yak 55M[forums.x-plane.org]

- x737[www.eadt.eu]

Helicopter

- Aérospatiale AS 332 Super Puma[forums.x-plane.org]

Plugins

- Landing Speed Plugin[forums.x-plane.org]

- PushBack: [XPGS] Ground Services[x-plane.joanpc.com] | SimplePushback[forums.x-plane.org]

Sceneries

- HD skid marks[forums.x-plane.org]

- Airport Information X-Plane[apxp.info]

- The X-Plane Scenery Gateway[gateway.x-plane.com]

- Antarctica4XPlane[maps2xplane.wordpress.com]

- MisterX6 USA Airports & Cities[forums.x-plane.org]

- SeaTraffic - Animated marine traffic[forums.x-plane.org]

- Seasons[forums.x-plane.org]

- X-Plane Scenery Overview Map[www.google.com]

- USA/Alaska airports
rdesignxDOTweeblyDOTcom/ |<-- link removed by steam-filter

- Hawaii[hawaii-photoreal.com]

Countries

- Italy[www.x-italy.it]
Bit dated in some areas and needs a lot of time to install complete.

- Spain & Portugal[www.spainuhd.es]

- Zonephoto X[zonephoto.x-plane.fr]
Sadly dated with not the best quality in some areas. I am using some capitals & the islands only.
Download problems? You need to enable Java in your control panel and add the page in the exclusions list.

Popular stuff

Here some popular stuff other pilots use. Me excluded.

Free:

- Airport Navigator[forums.x-plane.org]

- FMC | SimpleFMC[forums.x-plane.org]

- Ortho4XP[forums.x-plane.org]

- eBag | PDF and image viewer embedded in the X-Plane window [forums.x-plane.org]

- Real Terra Haze[forums.x-plane.org]

-> Water color for RTH Plugin @http://rdesignx.weeblyDOTcom/mods.html

- X-FMC[www.x-fmc.com]

- xOrganizer[forums.x-plane.org]

Payware:

- FS Global Real Weather

- Navigraph

- Real Weather Connector

- SkyMaxx Pro

- XP Scenery[www.xpscenery.net]

Self-made scenery: Adding & Removing

To create more life and new details to your XP-World you will need the OverlayEditor[forums.x-plane.org].

Some scenery "add-ons" to add:

- Flyby Planes[forums.x-plane.org], add animated flying aircraft in seconds to any airport or location!

- Sea Life[forums.x-plane.org], add sea life to the ocean.

- Waves Library[forums.x-plane.org]

- Water color[forums.x-plane.org].

and more "add-ons"[forums.x-plane.org] to use.

You have trees and buildings on your runway or you need to remove some other scenery objects from your scenery? No problem with the Overlay Editor. A simple FAQ is included with the editor.

X-Reloaded[forums.x-plane.org] - Reload plugins, aircraft or scenery from one plugin without restarting X-Plane.

One thing more to know is the orginal XP WorldEditor[developer.x-plane.com]: this editor you will need to create new fictive airports, seaports & heliports.

Must have hardware

Wanna be a true flight simmer? This is what you will need:

- Joystick / Flightstick

i am using still my old T16000. My next one could be a CH Fighterstick PRO.

- Head tracking device

Starting with ARMA2 back in 2010 I needed TrackIR 5 between my walls. Absolute worth the money, using it also for racing sims.

Old, but still a watchable video:

The year 2016. The last devices to catch. Early in this year I have decided to go deeper into Sim-flying and after hours of studying the web finally the decision: The "CH family". Fair price and industrial quality.

- Throttle

CH products Pro Throttle.
The only con: its too light, had to fix it.

- Rudder Pedals

CH Pro Pedals.
The only con: cable should leave the side of the chassis not the back :( Fixes needed to save the USB-cable.

- "Multi" Throttle and button box

CH Throttle Quadrant.
No cons. Funny is: This device took the most study time. i did not liked the "cheap" design, but without a competitor in this price regio. Bought it and can live with it now ;)

- Flight Yoke
Optional or as only control device. I feel no need for this yet.

And hardcore simmers? They go further ;)

Happy flying @ll!

Websites

X-plane devs[developer.x-plane.com]

Some Infos and more:

- Aerosoft Forum[forum.aerosoft.com]

- Aerosoft Sim News[asn-xp.aerosoft.com]

- Avsim-com[www.avsim.com]

- Flightsim-com[www.flightsim.com]

- flightsim: all about PC flight simulation

- Flying X-Plane[flyingxplane.apps-1and1.net]

- HeliSimmer [www.helisimmer.com]

- Smart Cockpit[www.smartcockpit.com]

- Simreviewshouse-com[www.simreviewshouse.com]

- SKYbrary[www.skybrary.aero]

- X-pilot[x-pilot.com]

- X-Plane Reviews[xplanereviews.com]

- Forums-x-plane-org[forums.x-plane.org]

- X-plained[www.x-plained.com]

Who knows german:

- Flusinews[flusinews.de]

- SimFlight[www.simflight.de]

Airplane landing

Everything what goes up, must come down ;)

For faster progress and understanding choose a small plane for the beginning like the Cessna.

Depending on the plane use:

- Flaps,

- Speedbrakes, Airbrakes, Auto-brakes,

- Manual left & right brakes,
With pedals: push constant and increase slowly the intensity. No full stop braking. No tapping. Tapping increases your braking distance.
Without pedals: tap the brake button. Tapping is here without pedals the only way to slow down or the runway is long enough to roll out ;-).

- Thrust reversal,

- Drogue parachute and for aircraft carrier landings a tailhook.


How to learn landing:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von bujablaster:

If you are about to make your best for your take offs and landings here are my humble advices (at least for me it worked fine):

- you can drill your landings via selecting Final approach on any airport under Location/Select global airport menu, it will place your aicraft on glide slope aligned with runway you selected (in such case i recommend to you do it with aircraft fully running, also as soon as X-Plane puts your aicraft on approach hit "P" for pause, then go to Location/Local map and set aour aicraft's speed)

or

- pick some airport dense area like San Francisco bay or better Vancouver bay area in Canada BC and fly between the airports

or

- fly traffic patterns, on small place and with short time you'll learn quickly about your aicraft's climbing, descending and turning abilities.

When i get some new aircraft i allways do some patterns or some training day flying with several landings and take offs to learn abilities of that aircraft and to get used with it.

To the landing itself:

- be sure your indicated air speed (IAS) on final approach is about 10-15 kts above your aicraft's stall speed (lower end of green arc on air speed gauge) and about 500ft above airport elevation

- point your aicraft like you are pointing to the touchdown zone on runway - not with your aicraft's nose but with your eyes

- don't flare too soon otherwise you will most probably loose speed too much and induce stall above runway -> hard landing at least (flare is that moment when you level your airplane i.e. above runway from descent to levelled flight to loose rest of unneeded air speed to touch down

If you want to go deeper i strongly recommend to install landing speed plugin :) it simply measures your descent rate at the moment of touchdown so evaluating how good or how hard landing was is easily for that plugin.

Sorry for such novel ;), but i hope it will help you.

B-24 Belly Landing in Italy 1944

Flight School

Check this overview: http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/forums/forum/33-flight-school/

Exploration

XXXX - ICAO Codes (International Civil Aviation Organization)

Some nice places with some dangerous airports to fly around:

Lukla, Nepal - VNLK
Courcheval, France - LFLJ
Ísafjörður, Iceland - BIIS
Toncontin, Honduras - MHTG
Gustav III Airport, St Barthélemy - TFFJ
Paro, Bhutan - VQPR
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Saba - TNCS
Princess Juliana International Airport, St Martin - TNCM
Stewart, Canada - CZST
Luleå, Sweden - ESPA
Molde, Norway - ENML
Unalaska Airport, USA - PADU
Anchorage, USA - PANC
Juneau, USA - PAJN
Hong Kong's old Kai Tak airport, China - VHXX
Samos, Greece - LGSM
Salzburg, Austria - LOWS
Innsbruck, Austria - LOWI
Gibraltar - LXGB
Barra, Scotland - EGPR
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - SBRJ, SBGL
Wellington, New Zealand - NZWN
Kansai, Japan - RJBB
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Canada - CYTZ
Halifax, Canada - CYHZ, CYAW
k2 / Godwin-Austen - Skardu, Pakistan - OPSD
Manaus Amazonas, Brasil - SBEG


The Seven Summits + some more mountains:


Asia:
8,884 m / 29,029 ft
Mount Everst - Lukla, VNLK

8,611 m / 28,251 ft
K2 / Godwin-Austen - Skardu, OPSD

South America:
6,961 m / 22,838 ft
Aconcagua / Los Andes - San Rafael, SCAN

North America:
6,190 m / 20,310 ft
Denali - Talkeetna, PATK

Africa:
5,895 m / 19,341 ft
Kibo - Kilimanjaro Airport, HTKJ

Europe:
Caucasus Mountains:
5,642 m / 18,510 ft
Mount Elbrus - NALCHIK, URMN

5,047 m / 16,558 ft
Kasbek - Beslan, URMO

Alps:
4,808 m / 15,776.7 ft
Mont Blanc - Courcheval, LFLJ

Pyrenees:
3,404 m / 11,168 ft
Aneto - La Seu d'Urgell, LESU

Antarctic:
4,892 m / 16,050 ft
Vinson Massif - No scenery available :( - Sky Blu, AT24

Australia:
4,884 m / 16,024 ft
Puncak Jaya / Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia - Timika, WABP

2,228 m / 7,310 ft
Mount Kosciuszko - Khancoban, YKHA

Some History

Some picturised past events:

Flight 90 - 1982
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Florida_Flight_90

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBlRsNACp3k

Flight 243 - 1988
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloha_Airlines_Flight_243

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83Ognz8SCKE

[harryorlsen]

https://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/24432-variable-water-color-for-x-plane-1025/

[harryorlsen]

Start XP10 over steam and you can select the plane maker.

[Copycat80]

where's plane maker?

[vCrausewitz]

Ouff!!!
Thanks for this collection of wisdom.
Will surely save time.
Let's see how much hd mesh / scenery my rig can take...

[Hope]

Very useful articla. Thank you.

[harryorlsen]

Hi mate! Go in-game to settings/Joystick&Equipment/Buttons: Adv/operation -> "Take a screenshot". You will find your screenies in your ../steamapps/common/X-plane10/Output folder. Have fun and be patience with your set up :)

[Yama]

How do i Take a picture with steam in sim, I cant seem to F12 to take a screen shot.

[theTURKISHhere]

Hello friend, I've just found your article, which it was really helpful to me. Thanks a lot